This Creative Writing program, “Poetry Writing!” is designed for Grades 3-5 and aligns with multiple Wit & Wisdom Modules depending on grade level (see below). Students will engage with sample poems and express themselves creatively through writing their own original poetry. They will reinforce key vocabulary and knowledge from their current modules.
Workshops By Grade Level/Module:
Workshop Title: “Where I’m From” Poems”
Grade: 3; Module #3 “A New Home”
Key Vocabulary: ancestors, childhood, descendants, dialogue, homeland
Overview: Students will explore personal heritage, identity, family and background through sensory details, then develop their own poems based on these details.
Workshop Title: “This is Just to Say” and “Observation Poems”
Grade: 3; Module #4 “Artists Make Art”
Key Vocabulary: imitated, inspire, ordinary, original, William Carlos Williams
Overview: After reading model poems from Williams, Students will investigate imagery, observation and emotion while writing an imitation poem inspired by the artist.
Workshop Title: “Emotion Poems”
Grade: 4; Module #1: “A Great Heart”
Key Vocabulary: figurative language, free verse, heart (figurative), metaphor, simile, repetition, Robert Frost
Overview: Students will explore figurative language by comparing the human emotions to all five senses using concrete details and then using self-reflection, they will write their own emotion poem.
Workshop Title: “Concrete Poetry: the sky was candy”
Grade:4; Module #4 “Myth Making”
Key Vocabulary: create, creation, impression, sensation, e.e. cummings
Overview: After exploring e.e.cummings’ experimental poem, students will create their own concrete poetry by bending traditional rules, using vivid visual poetry and image.
Workshop Title: “What am I?” and “Emotion Poems”
Grade: 5; Module #2 “Word Play”
Key Vocabulary: idioms, connotation, point-of-view, sensory language, sonnets, visualize
Overview: Students will engage in creative word play creating their own riddle poems using figurative language and emotions.
LESSON PLANS
Each program will begin by introducing students to the workshop goals while activating prior knowledge and key vocabulary tied into the modules. We will model a sample poem together as a class and work together to demonstrate how to bring their own original ideas to creating their own poetry. After the students have written (and illustrated, if time) their poems, there will be an opportunity for sharing aloud.
